Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-21
THE IOWA EVICTIONS.
Interview with Msjor P. r. Bailey "a Re
gard 20 the Disputed Lands.

Interview with ms jor z. Z. Bailey ia Re
gard 20 the Disputed Lands.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa, Oct. 10 -Msjor P
r. Bailey Of Sheldon, O'Brien county,
who is attorney for settlers on disputed
lands in that county, was in the city to-
day, and being interviewed by the Inter
Ocesn correspondent in regard to
the sensational reports from Washington
about the evictions of settlers by
an English syndicate, Msjor Bailey said :
"The Close brothers, who have organ
lied as the Northwestern Land Company,
bought the Milwaukee company's lands
in O'Brien county. The lands were in
controversy between the Milwaukee and
the old Sioux City and St. Paul Company
rhe Federal court divided the lands be-
tween the two companies. Governor
Larrabee, acting on the advice of Attor-
ney-Genersl Baker, patented the lands
which the Federal court had given to the
Milwaukee company. There is no
adverse title to these lands, but
the lands given by the Federal
Company have not been patented to that
company, nor have any settlers on the
Sioux City lands been elected. Suits on
lhO ClOuA wy Lhuu0 dAC III COuILs L my
self am attorney for about forty squatters
on the Sioux City lands. II IS the Mil
wsukee lands sold to Close Bros and
the lands sold by Close Bros, to other
parties from which squatters have been
elected. These lands are not in court.
No question is raised in court as to their
title, which rests on the decision of the
Federal court and on government patent.
DrIfi Ir-ic H.,
lands. In some cases they have gone on
improved farms which men had opened
on land bought of Close Bros. One SQUAT
ter even tried to jump part of the town
site OF Sheldon. Certainly these squat
tiers, coming into land owned By good
title by ether men, were put off. There
was no unnecessary force nor hardship
about the elections. Sheriff Green has
simply done mis- duty"
chow in regard to the report that a
sick woman was carried out of a house?"
"The woman went to the home of her
son-in-laW, squstter, and his agents,
when they called, found her in bed and
went away. Then, hearing that it was
not case Of real sickness, they carAed
Der away. On their way osck to town
they met this same woman riding in
WoSCu ahu OSIISCtIy well.
chow about Offering to leave squat
tiers on the land il they would sign
leases?"
'Thst was done to my knowledge by
parties who had bought lsnd of Close
Brothers. Owning the land they could
not afford to allow men VINO had no title
to stay on the land"
"And Is to the force used?''
"Some of the sqTatters had armed
themselves and talked loud about resist
ance, but the writs have been peaceaoly
served !"
In conclusion Major Bailey emphasizes
the Distinguishing between the Milwaukee
lands now owned by Close Bros or par
ties who had bought of Close Bros, and
about which no question of title IS in the
courts, and the squatters on the Sioux
City lands not patented and the title to
which is in the courts. The former are
tresspassers without shadow of title, and
these only have been elected. The latter
are in peaceable possession. None of
them have been ejected, and none of them
Will be pending the decision of the
courts.